Floating Mountain Vineyard lies in the hub of the Waipara region - 30 minutes north of Christchurch city. It was established in 1982 by then owner and former New Zealand Cabinet Minister, Derek Quigley. It was subsequently purchased, in 1988, by Mark & Michelle Rattray. Mark being one of the first winemakers to recognise the huge potential of the Waipara area. Floating Mountain is a small low cropping vineyard dedicated to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with additional areas of Sauvignon Blanc and Scheurebe, (a Riesling derivative). In spite of its small size, Floating Mountain exports to several countries including Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Denmark, America and the U.K. where, in 1995, at London's International Wine Challenge, Mark Rattray's 1993 Pinot Noir was the only New Zealand red to win a gold medal.